Tractor



Sept. 9. 1924. 1,507,762 a R. H. WHITE TRATOR File@ Feb. 13, 1922 s sheets-sneer 2 @mw/Ex sept. 9, 1924. 1,507,762

R. H. WHITE TRACTOR Filed Feb. l5, 1922 s sheets-sheet s' ATMP/w54 Patented sept. 9; 1924.

UNITED sTATEs vPATENT OFFICE.

ROLLIN H. WHITE, 0F CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIOfASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND TRACTOR COMPANY, OF EUCLID, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. I

Tamron.

' Application led February 13, 1922. Serial No. 536,152.

To all whom z't may concern.

Be it known that I, ROLLTN H. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new' and useful Improvement 1n Tractors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to tractors of the' tracklaying type and relates more particularly to the track members or track wheels and their relation with the tractor body.

One of therobjects of this invention is to provide track members which are so constructed that the usual sprockets, idlers and stationary bearing supports carried thereby are eliminated.

Another object is to provide a suitable runway in the track member to accommodate a roller bearing chain constructed of a series of rollers linked together.

Another object is to provide mechanism on the track members for tensioning both the roller chain and the track which surround each member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support or connection for the track n members with the tractor body, whereby the track members can oscillate and also have a resilient connection with the body, independent of each other.

Another object of this invention is the provision'of meansyon the tractor body for guiding and driving the track belt, and guidin the roller bearing chain.

In t e drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of the assembled tractor;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the tractor; y j v Fig. 3 is ,a side elevation of the track frame with the track and the roller chain removed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the track frame taken on lines A-A of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the track frame illustrating the front adjustment;

Fig. 6 is a section of the track frame on lines C-C of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the abutting ends of the track frame and its adjustment taken on lines D-D, of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8/is a top view of the track frame taken on'lines FF, of Fi 5;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the track frame and front hinged member"separated; an

. Fig. l0 is a view on lines E-E of Fig. 9 l

showing the track frame member sepa-rated.

' In the drawings the main frame or body of the tractor consists of a transmission unit 20, an engine unit 21 and a front gear cover unit 22 bolted togethery forming'a rigid construction. A pan 23 is secured under these and front hinged three sections of the main frame and serves as a bottom cover and a lubricant container. The front gea-r cover casting carries the water pump 24, the magneto 25 and the radiator assembly 26. Secured above the engine by a cradle are the fuel tank 27 and the airI purifier 28, the cradle being secured at its front end to the radiator assembly and at its rear end to a standard 29 which is secured to, and projects Aup from ythe transmission castin The transmission unit 2O includes a hollow casting carrying the usual transmission mechanism which terminates in ali ed drive shafts 30. These shafts project rom each side of the casting and transmit power to double sprockets 31 carried on hubs 32 which are secured to the projecting end of each sha-ft. An axle` 33 is secured transversely through hollow hubs integral with the transmission casting, and projects from each side thereof at a point below the transmission mechanism and vertically in line with4 the driving axles.

The tractor body, or main frame just described'is supported by two similar track members which are located along .each side thereof, both consisting of several sections assembled together. The main track frame section 34 of each track member is formed from two pieces of sheet metal, one of which is bent to form -an open frame comprising a flat horizont-a1 top 35 and depending sides 36. A closure plate 37 extends between the sides of the main section 34 and is as stated, formed of sheet metal and is bent to yform `longitudinal edges which extend down and cutaway at each end to extend upwardly and the closure plate is bent at its ends to curve upwardly adjacent the sides. A front closure plate 7 5"is positioned transversely across the main track frame and is secured to the inner walls of the depending sides thereof.

An upstanding rear track :frame guide section 40 is secured at the rear end of the main track frame section 34. This -rear section is formed of a semi-circular sheet of metal bent to form a top 41 and sides 42. The circular edges of the sidesvl are positioned to form a continuation of the sides of the main track frame section and the sides are turned under at 42and are riveted to the top of the main member. ,A tongue 43 projecting from 'the top 41 is bent out and secured against` the top of the main track frame section. A closure plate 44 is secured between the outer circular edges of the sides 42 and forms a continuation of the closure plate of the main track frame section when assembled therewith. The closure plate isy provided with a central pressed 1n runway 45 and bent down edges which are riveted to the inner circular edges of the sides.

The rear guide section, it Awill be seen forms a closed hollow structure, as does the main section of the track frame to which it is secured. l A front track frame guide section 46 having a semi-circular outer surfaceis secured at the front end ofthe main track frame section.V The front section is formed of two vsemi-circular plates 47 and a curved sheet metal closure plate 48 having a pressed in central runway 49. The closure plate extends between the plates 47 and has itsedges bent out and riveted to these plates near their outer circular edges. A reinforcing plate 50 is secured to each of the plates 47 on their lower outside portion andv reinforcing plates 51 are secured to the inside front end of the sides 36 of the main track frame section. The rear reinforced portions of the plates 47 extend outside of the reinforced sides 36 and a bolt 52 extends through the overlapping. portions and reinforcing plates carried thereby, for pivoting the main section and front guide section together, suitable meansbeing provided for securing the bolt in position. The runway and the outer edges of the plates which comprise the front guide member, are positioned to form a continuation of the curved front ends of the sides and runway forming the main track frame section.

-Secured to the inside of closure plate 47 are depending brackets 53 which are perforated to provide a bearing for pin 54, to which is pivotally attached a threaded eye bolt 55. A bracket 56 having perforated sidesv is secured nearthe forward end on the top of the main member and provides a bearing for pin 57, to which is pivotally attached a threaded eye bolt 58. A turn buckle 59 connects the threaded eye bolts 55 and 58. By turning the turnbuckle the front guide member can be dra-wn forward,

or backward, with respect to the main the bulk head limit the movement of bolt .y

60 and therefore limit the pivotal action of the front guide section.- rLlhe closure 48 is cutaway at the end adjoining the main track member providing a tongue 62 which extends into af'recess 63 cut in the end of the runway 38 in the main member. The tongue ris long enough .to remain within the recess at 'the extreme extended point of pivotal adjustment between the main member andr front member, thereby forming a continuous runway for the roller chain. The outer ends of the sides of the runway 49 are are'd at 64 to guide the vroller chain as it enters the runway.

Cast brackets 65 having hollow sleeves 66 are secured near the rear end and to the top portion ofthe main track frames 34. The

shaft 33 projecting at each side from the m'ain frame extends through the hollow sleeves and is secured thereto permitting the side track lmembers to pivot freely therewith. Secured to the inner sides of theV main track' frame members and near the forward ends thereof are guides 67 having extended portions which are perforated to receive bolts 68. These bolts extend through secured around the Thus it will be seen that the track frame members are pivoted tojthe main frame at a point below all transmission mechanism, in vertical line with the driving shafts, and that the front ends thereof are resiliently connected.4 to ythe main frame for relative independent movement vertically, Vwith re' spect to each other, and-to the main frame.

An endless roller chain 39 surrounds each* track frame member, being in contact therewith in the continuous runway, and entendsl over the hubs of the driving sprockets 31. An endless track 73 of a conventional form, having a runway 74 for the endless roller chain, extends around each side frame mem- `runway of the track frame. The sprocket hub is of such a size thatI the rotation. of the roller chain bearin thereon is substantially equal to the rotation of the hub, lthereby.l reducing the friction therebetween to a minimum.

said section.

ing spaced from`v sai In accordance with. the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of construction and operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I'claim is:

1. A track frame member comprising a .main frame section, a rear guide Section-n secured to said main section, a front guide section pivoted to said mam sectlon, and a bulkhead for preventing lateral movement of said front guide sectlon relative to the main section, and means secured to said front guide section co-operating with said bulkhead to limit the pivotal movement of 2. A track frame member com risin a main frame section, a rear gui e section Secured to said main frame, ay front guide sectionV ivoted to said main frame, a hollow bu head secured to said main frame abutting each sideof said-front guidesection and having the sides thereof slotted, and a bolt secured to said front guide section and extending through the slots in the sides of said bulk head to limit the pivotal movement of said frotguide section.

3. A track frame member comprisinor a hollow main section including a top, si es, and a closure plate formed with a lon tudinally extending oove, said plate Edtop and secured between said lsides; a hollow upstanding section secured to one end of said mam section including a to sides, and a curved closure plate forme with a longitudinally of the oove -in said mam section, said plate belng secured between saidasides; and a hollow upstanding section secured to the other end of said main section includ' extendlng groove providing a continuationv sides and a closure plate secured therebetween, said plate belng' formed with a longitudinally extending groove, forming a continuation of the groove in the main section.

4. A track frame member comprising a closed hollow box shaped main section havey in the bottom formed with a longitudina ly extending groove, a closed hollow u standing section secured uponthe top of said main 'section at onel end thereof, said upstandin provide with a longitudinally extending groove' joining the groove in said main section, `and a semi-circularupstandin section section having a curved bottom v adjustably secured to theother en of said main section, said semijcircular section having a curved closure plate provided with a groove in alignment with the groove in said main section, 1

5. A track frame member comprising a hollow main section including a top having downturned sides and a longitudinally grooved closure plate spaced from said top and secured between said sides; an upwardly extending hollow section securedto the rear end of said main section including a top having sides bent therefrom and a curved longitudinally grooved closure plate spaced from the top and secured between the sides; and an upwardly extending hollow section secured to the front end of said main section, said section including sides having a curved longitudinally/grooved closure plate secured therebetween,the sides and closure platesof said sections forming a continuous structure.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature. w

ROLLIN H. WHITE. 

